Weightloss before IVF could improve chances of pregnancy

A new analysis of previous studies has found that women seeking in vitro fertilization might improve their odds of becoming pregnant if they lose weight.

The study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine also said that weight loss interventions appeared to improve the likelihood of spontaneous pregnancy. 

However the major benefit of weight loss was mainly seen in the few couples who achievened pregnancy without assistance. 

Weight loss interventions carried out by test subjects included low-calorie diets, an exercise program accompanied by healthy eating advice, and pharmacotherapy accompanied by diet and physical activity advice

No one intervention proved to be more successful than the other however.

According to the report by lead researcher Moscho Michalopoulou and colleagues at the University of Oxford, it was not clear whether they improved the odds of IVF-induced pregnancy.

Few things were unclear from the analysis including - the magnitude of advantage weight loss provided to obese women seeking IVF and whether weight loss improved the odds of a live birth. 

There was also no evidence that weight loss increased the risk of pregnancy loss.

Dr. Alan Penzias, an IVF specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School in Boston, published an editorial with the study.

He says that “weight reduction among people with overweight or obesity has many known health benefits… (and) some patients may also achieve a desired pregnancy as a consequence of weight loss.”

But in decision-making about IVF, the editorial continues, “we must consider the marked decrease in fertility as age increases… and other factors that weight loss cannot address.”

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